"A little off the top" probably doesn't cut it...
September 10, 2011 9:28 AM Subscribe
I've decided to get my eyebrows under control. There's an eyebrow threading place near where I work. What should I ask for/know when I show up?
I'm a guy who occasionally presents as a girl. I am admittedly still learning about what works for me as far as makeup, etc. I have never done any self-grooming on my eyebrows other than a little plucking in the middle.
When I'm in girl mode my eyebrows aren't horrible (i.e., it's not Columbo or Herman Munster), but they're definitely not quite feminine. I'd like to get them shaped so that it's not totally incongruous when I'm in boy mode in my boring, professional job where I'm not out.
I'm comfortable sitting down and saying all of what I just wrote to the person working on my eyebrows, but I wanted to get a better understanding of pitfalls to avoid or anything else I should think about before showing up.
Also, is $15 a reasonable price for eyebrow threading in a major metro area?
I'm a guy who occasionally presents as a girl. I am admittedly still learning about what works for me as far as makeup, etc. I have never done any self-grooming on my eyebrows other than a little plucking in the middle.
When I'm in girl mode my eyebrows aren't horrible (i.e., it's not Columbo or Herman Munster), but they're definitely not quite feminine. I'd like to get them shaped so that it's not totally incongruous when I'm in boy mode in my boring, professional job where I'm not out.
I'm comfortable sitting down and saying all of what I just wrote to the person working on my eyebrows, but I wanted to get a better understanding of pitfalls to avoid or anything else I should think about before showing up.
Also, is $15 a reasonable price for eyebrow threading in a major metro area?
I get mine for $7 in a major metro area. It takes about ten minutes. The only thing I (an unkempt-eyebrow lady) was asked was whether I prefer "thick" or "thin". Just show up - they will know what to do. If you need, use the magic words "just need to get them cleaned up". That's code for "I have no idea - use good judgement". Also works for hair trims!
posted by theraflu at 9:36 AM on September 10, 2011
posted by theraflu at 9:36 AM on September 10, 2011
Bring pictures of some shapes/thicknesses that you like! Then you and the threader can be on the same page and they have some images to use to explain why a particular shape will or won't work with your features.
You're probably already on it, but be sure to have more than $15 so you can tip your threader.
I have never done threading before, just waxing, but maybe ask them how much maintenance you should do in between appointments. For example, do they want you to stop plucking a week before your appointment so that the hairs are long enough to thread?
Finally, I've heard that fuller brows make you look younger. I don't know how true that is, but I do know that as you age, your eyebrows tend to thin out, so don't go too thin if you're mid-thirties or up.
posted by Fui Non Sum at 9:42 AM on September 10, 2011
You're probably already on it, but be sure to have more than $15 so you can tip your threader.
I have never done threading before, just waxing, but maybe ask them how much maintenance you should do in between appointments. For example, do they want you to stop plucking a week before your appointment so that the hairs are long enough to thread?
Finally, I've heard that fuller brows make you look younger. I don't know how true that is, but I do know that as you age, your eyebrows tend to thin out, so don't go too thin if you're mid-thirties or up.
posted by Fui Non Sum at 9:42 AM on September 10, 2011
I pay $10 in New England area. The only thing I would suggest is to tell them you are new to this. My threading lady asks me to pull the skin around my eyebrows and since I know what she means, I can do it - but she usually has thread in her mouth - so if you tell them before, they can explain what they might mean if they ask you to pull the skin tight around your eyebrows.
posted by quodlibet at 11:04 AM on September 10, 2011
posted by quodlibet at 11:04 AM on September 10, 2011
Be prepared for PAIN! I've had my eyebrows waxed many times but the pain of threading that first time was literally eye-watering.
posted by essexjan at 12:24 PM on September 10, 2011 [6 favorites]
posted by essexjan at 12:24 PM on September 10, 2011 [6 favorites]
I forced my husband to go to my threader before our wedding. I think I said "clean them up." She left the bulk of the brows where they were, and just took care of the stragglers and unibrow. Just that looked great, so if you go in as a guy, you might find that your natural shape carries over quite well to your female self. At least give that a try before you start changing the shape.
I pay $15 in Denver.
posted by freshwater at 12:40 PM on September 10, 2011
I pay $15 in Denver.
posted by freshwater at 12:40 PM on September 10, 2011
I pay $8 in NYC. If you are paying that little, I wouldn't expect to have a sustained conversation with your threader about the shape besides "thick" or "thin." There are some places that charge $50 and give you an hour consultation. I've never paid more than $8 and have always been satisfied.
posted by Sylvia Plath's terrible fish at 1:24 PM on September 10, 2011
posted by Sylvia Plath's terrible fish at 1:24 PM on September 10, 2011
Thick brows (that might once have been considered "mannish") are acceptable for women as well, as long as they look well-groomed, flattering to the face, and intentional. So you don't even have to bring up gender with your groomer, if you don't want to. Be a striking lady rocking thick brows, if you want a look that transitions well "both ways."
posted by monkeysock at 4:21 PM on September 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by monkeysock at 4:21 PM on September 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'd say to start with the "just clean them up" approach. After you get it one or twice, you'll probably have a much better idea of what sort of more specific instructions you'd like to give. (This is exactly what I do as a cis-gendered woman, by the way. One of my brows is more sparse on one side than the other, I always have to instruct them to go ahead and pluck the stray hairs that look messy to me, even though they're "technically" in the right place.)
To go in a slightly more feminine direction, you can start by having them remove a few more of the stray hairs between the bottom of your eyebrow and your eyelid.
Intermediate level: For the gap between your brows, the feminine standard is that holding a pencil against the side of your nose shows you where the brows should start.
Advanced level: Greater tapering of the whole eyebrow, but be careful, a little bit of plucking goes a loooong way here.
posted by desuetude at 8:45 PM on September 11, 2011
To go in a slightly more feminine direction, you can start by having them remove a few more of the stray hairs between the bottom of your eyebrow and your eyelid.
Intermediate level: For the gap between your brows, the feminine standard is that holding a pencil against the side of your nose shows you where the brows should start.
Advanced level: Greater tapering of the whole eyebrow, but be careful, a little bit of plucking goes a loooong way here.
posted by desuetude at 8:45 PM on September 11, 2011
Response by poster: Hah, that was anti-climactic. I was the only one in the shop, and the extent of my conversation with the threader was her looking at me and asking, "Eyebrows?" and me responding, "Yes, please."
It looks a lot neater than what I started out with. At least to my eyes, it does look sufficiently unisex. I might actually try asking for a greater arch, next time. We'll see.
Oh, yeah. That was quite a bit more pain than I was expecting. Eek!
posted by TranSubstantial at 4:42 PM on September 13, 2011
It looks a lot neater than what I started out with. At least to my eyes, it does look sufficiently unisex. I might actually try asking for a greater arch, next time. We'll see.
Oh, yeah. That was quite a bit more pain than I was expecting. Eek!
posted by TranSubstantial at 4:42 PM on September 13, 2011
You get used to the pain. Breathing steadily and steeling yourself for what you know is coming can help. :)
posted by desuetude at 10:32 PM on September 13, 2011
posted by desuetude at 10:32 PM on September 13, 2011
Ok...you definitely get used to the threading pain - I actually find the process relaxing now but I've been threading for almost 10 years. I have also never told them anything about what I wanted done to my eyebrows, yet they always seem to get it perfect...random people sometimes come up to me in public to compliment my eyebrows. (Seriously)
I've had mine waxed on an off too, but I have sensitive skin and a lot of places do not have very good control over the temperature of their wax. I have had actual scabs due to burns from wax, but I think I am an extreme case.
posted by fromageball at 8:45 AM on September 25, 2011
I've had mine waxed on an off too, but I have sensitive skin and a lot of places do not have very good control over the temperature of their wax. I have had actual scabs due to burns from wax, but I think I am an extreme case.
posted by fromageball at 8:45 AM on September 25, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
$15 sounds about right.
posted by bleep at 9:34 AM on September 10, 2011